Dennis's Story.
EARLY LIFE
Denis (or Dennis) Moss was born in Macclesfield in 1892, the son of Elizabeth and Charles Moss, a general labourer. In 1901, eight-year-old Denis was living at 24 Canal Street, Macclesfield with his parents and siblings Mary (30), John (28), described as a soldier, Henry (24), Emma (19), Stephen (16), Isabela (14) and Jane (6). By 1911 the family had moved to 2 Lower Exchange Street and Denis was employed as a Swiss embroiderer.
In 1913 Denis married Sarah Jane Norbury at St Michael's Church, Macclesfield and the couple had two sons: Arthur, born in 1914, and Denis, born in 1915.
WW1 SERVICE
Denis enlisted into the local Cheshire Regiment in 1914 and was allocated service number 3878. After training at Oswestry, he was drafted overseas in September 1916 and was transferred to the King's Shropshire Light Infantry.
The death of Private Moss was reported in the Macclesfield Times on 1 December 1916:
Mrs Moss, 10 Pool Street, Macclesfield, has been officially notified that her husband, Private Dennis Moss, King's Shropshire Light Infantry, was killed in action in France on November 13th. Corporal Burgess, writing to his mother, who lives in Jackson Street, states that Private Moss was shot in the head during an attack and died instantly, without suffering any pain. He adds:- "His loss is very great to his many friends in our company, as he was a good soldier and a hardworking lad."
Private Moss was the son of the late Mr Charles Moss, of Macclesfield, and was born in Macclesfield 24 years ago. He attended St Paul's School, and for the last nine years had been employed by Councillor A W Hewetson as an embroiderer at the St George's Street Mill. The deceased was a member of the Macclesfield Harriers, and was well-known in the local swimming world, having carried off several prizes in competitions at the baths. He enlisted about eighteen months ago in the Cheshires, and since being drafted to France two months ago had been transferred to the King's Shropshire Light Infantry. He underwent his training at Oswestry. Three brothers are working on munitions. A brother-in-law, Private Fred Roach, of the Cheshires, who went out to France about the same time as Private Moss, has been wounded in two places and is now in hospital at Stourbridge. Private Moss leaves a widow and two young children, with whom much sympathy is felt in their sad bereavement.
COMMEMORATION
Private Dennis Moss has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial in France.
In Macclesfield, Private William Davenport is commemorated on the Park Green, Town Hall, St Michael’s Church and St George's Church war memorials, and on the Ancient Order of Foresters roll of honour.
Research by Rosie Rowley, Congleton.
Research by Rosie Rowley, Congleton.